Since ancient times, people make and use a variety of weapons.With it, people provide food, defend against enemies, protected home.In this article we look at ancient weapons - some of his views, preserved from the past centuries and are in the collections of museums special.
From sticks to Mace
Initially, the first weapon was an ordinary person a strong stick.Over time, for convenience and greater efficiency of its steel to burden and give it a convenient form.By shifting the center of gravity of the end tools, to achieve maximum acceleration and a heavy blow.So there was an ancient weapon - Mace.For use in a collision with the enemies in the branch drives a wedge of stone or metal.Production was cheap and did not require any specific skills to use.Any strong man could use it, unlike spear throwing which had previously trained.
Warriors mace
Due to continuous conquest of territories and requirements of war weapons as strikes instrument grew.Mace of wood could not cope with its tasks.Therefore, it became okovyvat iron and equipped with spikes.Thus arose following an ancient Russian weapons, which became known as mace.At the end of its handle was located a stone or a metal backplate having iron spikes or feathers.Reasonable distribution of power made it possible to shorten the gun.There is no need to carry it on your shoulder, it was enough to thrust the mace in his belt.In addition, its effectiveness at times exceed the quality of the sword.Blow mace stopped the enemy faster than Shred sword armor.
Melee
Along with mace soldiers used this ancient edged weapon as the ax and sword.Axe - a battle-ax, which was used in the melee.Chopping of this instrument is made in the shape of a crescent.Usefulness ax was that the rounded blade can cut helmets and shields, without getting stuck in them.The handle of the hatchet ax distinguished by the fact that it was a direct and easy to catch from one hand to another.Balance is maintained by gravity or butt, or the presence of the second blade.Ax chop were very effective, but spend a lot of forces soldier.She could not swing as much as the sword.The advantages lie in the fact that the ax is easy to forge, to the same sodden blade did not reduce the force of impact.Axe was able to break the neck and ribs under armor.
It is worth noting that this ancient weapon, like a sword, though it was fighting, but created on expensive technology, and it had only mercenaries and the aristocracy.He was able to put the cutting, slashing and thrusting.In Russia, the swords were in the middle of the VIII century thanks to the Scandinavian warriors who changed their beaver and fox fur.On the evidence of their origin stamps available on the blades found on the Russian lands.Other details of the swords produced or improved old Russian masters.Later replaced saber sword that Russian soldiers have borrowed from the Tatars.
When the smell of gunpowder
With the invention of gunpowder in X-XII centuries emerged antique firearms, which began to be used in China.The first use of guns in Russia is mentioned in the description of a collision with Tokhtamysh Khan in 1382.Such a weapon called ruchnitsey.It was a metal tube with a handle.Gunpowder, poured into the barrel, set fire through the hole hot rod.
At the beginning of the XV century in Europe appeared to ignite the wick content and then wheel lock.When you press the shutter cocking spring launched the wheel, which, in turn, spinning, rubbed against flint sparks.This ignited the gunpowder.It was a difficult old weapon that has failed to ignite the wick replaced, but it became the prototype pistols.
Shock-silicon castle appeared in the middle of the XVI century.It sparks igniting gunpowder, carved flint inside the hammer and strike the flint.The cartridge, which contained lead bullet and powder charge, put into use in the late XVII century.Later the weapon was equipped with a bayonet, which allowed to take part in the melee.The principle of operation of Russian military weapons has not changed, the differences were only in certain types of structures corresponding to each kind of troops.
